Chansen Cole is making the leap from Division II to the big stage — and he couldn’t be more excited about it. The right-handed pitcher is one of the latest additions to West Virginia University’s baseball program, transferring from Newberry College in South Carolina.
Though leaving Newberry wasn’t easy, Cole said the decision came down to growth.
“The guys at Newberry will always mean a lot to me — the coaches, my teammates, everyone there,” Cole said. “They gave me a shot when not many others did coming out of high school. I’ll always carry that with me. But it felt like the right time to take that next step.”
And Cole made the most of his first year of college ball. He pitched 87.2 innings as a freshman, racking up 97 strikeouts and posting a 3.39 ERA. That kind of performance caught the attention of bigger programs, and when the transfer portal opened, West Virginia stood out.
“I wanted to play the game at a higher level and be at a place with top-tier resources,” Cole explained. “WVU checked all the boxes.”
Cole had been in regular contact with Mountaineers head coach Steve Sabins and assistant coach Justin Oney since entering the portal. But it wasn’t until he visited Morgantown that he felt completely sure.
“Talking with the coaches was one thing — but seeing the place, meeting the people, and getting a feel for the culture made it an easy decision,” he said. “Everyone I met was passionate about the game and serious about building something special.”
Cole said what impressed him most about Morgantown wasn’t just the facilities — though the new Baseball Biomechanics Performance Center blew him away — but the fans.
“Driving through the city and seeing WVU flags everywhere, the stickers on cars — it gave me goosebumps,” Cole said. “You can tell this state loves its teams, and I want to be part of that.”
He also praised the coaching staff’s vision and leadership, noting how Sabins and Oney laid out their plans to keep WVU baseball competitive on the national stage.
“They know what they’re doing,” Cole said. “The way they talked about the program’s direction made it clear this is where I need to be.”
As he prepares to join the team, Cole is focused on doing whatever it takes to help the Mountaineers win.
“I’m someone who loves to compete, loves to work hard, and loves to win baseball games,” he said. “But more than that, I want to help everyone around me succeed. That’s what being a great teammate is all about.”
With his talent, work ethic, and team-first mindset, Chansen Cole is ready to make his mark in Morgantown — and Mountaineer Nation is ready to cheer him on.
